The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-05-05
II. Haunted Roe.


Once, In the dead heart Of the pitiless
winter, bad drawn my good two handed
lecture with the terrible name, aud was
shifting all the coasts Of Pennsy ylyania
with 1t, sparing neither pronounced ny
ther) young nor old. aud wearing at my
belt the scalps Of many a pale faced audi
ence. One night l reached Erie. the
pleasant, Just as the clock in the lord
mayors castle struck twenty.one. 1t was
bitter, biting, stipging cold, and there was
no ambulance at tho station. while there
was a good hotel there. ] went In and
registered, and man Of commanding
presence, tsilor-built clothes, aud brown
beard OF most refined culture, followed
me, and under my plebeisn scrawl. made
The register luminous with his patrician
cognomen. stood little in awe OF this
majestic being, about NJ little ~ usually
stand in the presence OF any majestic Great
ure, and when in deep bass, commanding
voice lie ordered room, / had u great
mind something always carry with me
when travel-t go out aud get him one.
The gentlemanly and urbaue night clerk,
who also seemed to be deeply impressed =
as is the habit Of the night clerk, said be
was sorry but he had but one vacant room
aud it contained but one bed. "Stlll, be
said, as became a man who was bound to
stand for bis house. If he badn'ta q bed in
it, ''it was a very wide bed and quite long
Two gentlemen could sleep in livery com.
fortably, and it"--but the commanding
being at my side said it was quite out of
the question entirely. Quite. He was
sorry for the--here he looked at me, hesi-
tated, but finally said gentleman, but He
couldn't share His room with him. He
was sorry for the gentleman and hoped
he might find comfortable lodgings, but
He couldn't permit him to occupy even
portion Of His bed. Then the clerk begged
pardon, and was sorry, and sll that, but
this other gentleman had registered first
and it was for him to say what disposition
should be made of this lonely room and
solitary bed. ! hastened to assure the
majestic being that it was all right; he was
welcome to two thirds OF the room, oil the
looking glass and one half OF the bed.
mo- he said very abruptly. II will sit
here by the stove and sleep in the chair.
thank you, sir, but would not sleep
with my own brother I prefer room to
myself" meekly told him that didn't
know what kind OF man his brother was,
but no doubt he did, and therefore must
conclude that he wasn't q fit man TO sleep
with. But his brother was out OF the
question, and if he wanted part OF my
couch he might have it and welcome, and
| would agree not to think OF his brother.
No sir, he said will sleep 10 no mans
or the President, and wouldn't care cent
bed" / said | wouln't either, II | wasn't
sleepy, but when ] was sleepy didn't
care; I'd sleep with the king Of England
who knew it,
Well | went to bed, curled up nuder
the warm, soft blankets. and heard the
wind shrek aud wall and whistle and yell
how like all creation the wind can blow
in Erie aud as the night grew colder and
colder every minute, l fell asleep and
dreamed that heaven was just forty eight
miles west OF Dunkirk. About 2:30 or 3
0 clock there came a laundering rap at the
door. aud with vague. half-wskening
lm oppression in my dream that somebody
from the other place was trying TO get in,
said
What is IL?
1T is /, answered splendid voice,
which ] recognized at once. II am the
an who came on the train with
you
"Yes." | said "and what is the mattery
The splendid voice was trihe bumbled
as it replied:
II have changed my mind about sleep
ing with another man"
80 have Iiv I howled. 80 joyously that
the very winds laughed in merry echo,
80 have wonldn't get ont Of this
a arm bed TO open the door for my own
brother
will close tbis story here. II sbould
write the laagusge that went down that
iin. cold ban outside my door you would
not PRINT It, Add when the neIt morning
went skipping downstairs as fresh as q
Z aud saw that msjestic being knotted
- j, bard arm chair, looking hundred
, srs I'D. said.
Better poor and wise child than so
Did and foolish king. who knoweth not
no~ 70 be sdmoDisbed. For out Of prison
be cometh TO reign; whereas, also he that
i born 10 bis kingdom becometh poor.
rps also ~ vanity.